SMPTE Names Barbara H. Lange as New Executive Director

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) today announced that it has selected Barbara H. Lange as its new executive director.

Lange, who most recently served as staff director of product management and business development for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical association, will officially undertake her new role on January 20, 2010. “We are thrilled to have a professional of Barbara’s standing and experience join the SMPTE team,” said Ken Fuller, SMPTE president. “Barbara’s vision and proven effectiveness in creating new revenue- generation opportunities and growing membership will stand us in good stead as we execute our strategic plan for aggressive and successful growth – particularly as the applications and markets for motion-imaging technologies expand and proliferate.”

As SMPTE executive director, Lange will be responsible for managing SMPTE business development, operations and marketing activities; advancing the organization’s charter as the global leader of technical standards and practices for the motion-imaging industry; increasing overall organization revenue and targeting new investment opportunities; and recruiting new members. Lange will report directly to the SMPTE Board of Governors through the SMPTE Executive Committee.

About LangeAt IEEE, which has more than 385,000 members worldwide and annual revenues of $350 million, Lange most recently was responsible for managing online subscription products with revenues in excess of $150 million, including digital periodicals, conference proceedings, standards, e-books, education products, and certification publications.

Lange was instrumental in developing new subscription products and innovative business models that leverage the Internet, mobile phone, and other platforms -- and that have driven double-digit increases in revenue for IEEE. She played a key role in developing IEEE Xplore (www.ieee.org/ieeeexplore), the online digital library which features more than 2.25 million documents and has seen a five-fold increase in usage since its inception. Lange also developed strategic partnerships with not-for-profit organizations and commercial research institutions to extend IEEE’s visibility and reach, including outreach into key markets such as China. Lange was the recipient of the 2002 Joyce E. Farrell IEEE Staff Award for outstanding service.

Previously, Lange served in product and sales management positions at the German scientific publisher Springer-Verlag and at Sherex Chemical Company. She has also been an invited guest speaker at multiple high technology professional and academic meetings. Lange holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and German from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA.

About Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers:Winner of an Oscar(R) and multiple Emmy(R) Awards, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers is a global leader in advancing the art, science, and craft of the image, sound, and metadata ecosystem. A professional membership association that is internationally recognized and accredited, SMPTE advances moving-imagery education and engineering across the communications, technology, media, and entertainment industries. For a century, SMPTE has published the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal and developed more than 800 standards, recommended practices, and engineering guidelines.

Nearly 7,000 members -- motion-imaging executives, engineers, creative and technology professionals, researchers, scientists, educators, and students -- who meet in Sections worldwide, sustain the Society. Through the Societys partnership with the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA(R)), this membership is complemented by the professional community of businesses and individuals who provide the expertise, support, tools, and infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television programs, commercials, digital media, and other dynamic media content. Information on joining SMPTE is available at www.smpte.org/join.Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers Directory page